There are
some rather anonymous streets, which also look quite ordinary, but when you
have a closer look… there is always something to find. Let’s thus have a look
at Rue Nollet in the 17th arrondissement, in the Batignolles area. Its
origins are a bit earlier than when this quarter became integrated into Paris in 1860. In 1864 the street changed its name from Rue Saint Louis to Rue Nollet. We can
see the old street name on a building which thus obviously was constructed
before 1864. It got its name from Jean Antoine Nollet (1700-1770), a
clergyman and physicist, especially involved in the then new science of
electricity. A postcard from around 1900 (sorry for the bad quality) shows how
a “blind wall” those days was a place for advertising – soon for street art?
A map shows
where you can find the street, crossing streets… In the upper part we are close
to Place de Clichy. A lot of things happened here, especially during the
years preceding impressionism, but that’s another chapter (see e.g. here).
Most of the
buildings along the street are from the latter part of the 19th
century…
… others are
a bit more recent, early 20th century, much more bourgeoises, some
with very rich decoration. The different type of building at no. 53 was once
occupied by the “Parfums Rochas”, but is now for rent.
One building,
no. 80, is probably of an early generation, with a garden in front (and a dog
in the courtyard).
We can find
some examples of bygone and still existing businesses…
… a number
of art galleries…
… many examples of previous days’ rich decoration,
sometimes with (probably) the owners’ initials.
On one of
the doors you can read FFB – here was once the home of the French Boxing Federation.
In a
backyard I found an old thermometer, obviously still showing the correct
temperature.
At the top
of the street, where it meets Rue des Dames (see previous post), you can find a
very odd shop, “Angel Modes”, specializing in fashion for shows,
especially of transvestite type, and the nicely decorated bar “Caves du Chalet”.
Walking down
you will cross Rue Condamine, rich in history preceding the impressionism movement (see
again here or here), where you once found the workshop of Frédéric Bazille,
where Emile Zola lived for a while…
The street
goes as far as to rue Cardinet and the new park ”Clichy-Batignolles-Martin Luther King” (on
which I have posted a number of times, see here). On the
corner is installed “Institut Vattel”, which offers high (university level) education of hotel/restaurant business (with a restaurant, where the students prove their skills).
But, what
may be especially interesting is to see who has lived and worked, at least
temporarily, along this street.
Starting
with no. 1 of the street, we learn that the poet Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863) stayed here around 1838, more or less the time when the then famous
actress Marie Dorval (closely linked to Georges Sand) was his mistress.
Another
poet, Paul Verlaine (1844-96), spent part of his young life at no. 10. Even if
you haven’t read his poetry, maybe you have seen the movie with Leonardo di
Caprio in the role of his friend Arthur Rimbaud – actually a very complicated
friendship. We can see them both in this painting by Henri Fantin-Latour.
Alfred Sisley
(1839-99) spent some time at no. 41. Here
you can see him portrayed by his friend Auguste Renoir.
At no. 54 a
modern 1970-building now replaces a town house with garden which during WWII
was occupied by Nicolas de Staël (1914-55), lent by friends. We can see a family
photo from those days. His talented companion Jeannine Guillou (here portrayed by him),
who died too young (1946), painted the garden which now is gone. They had some
tough years, destroyed the interior of the house in order to get heating
material, but received visits by Max Ernst, Picasso, Braque, Juan Gris…
Max Jacob,
another poet (1876-1944), close friend of Picasso – especially in Pablos’s
young years, but also of a great number of other artists, poets… lived at no.
55 during the years 1928-34. It became a “salon” where artists of all kinds
met - musicians, composers, poets, painters, but also e.g. Christian Dior, who
those days was still a gallerist, a popular singer like Charles Trenet… Jean
Cocteau came frequently. Arrested in
1944, Max Jacob had just the time to die before being transported to Auschwitz.
The portraits of Max Jacob are by Modigliani, but probably already from about
1916.
There are a
number of other celebrities who have spent shorter or longer periods of time here, but I
haven’t found the street numbers.
Amédée de Noé,
better known as “Cham” (1818-79) was a caricaturist who published in the famous
illustrated magazine “Charivari” (1832-1937).
Film
director Jean Eustache (1938-81) lived here many years, until his death by
suicide. He’s especially known for the movie “La Maman et La Putain” with
Bernadotte Lafont and, particularly, Jean-Pierre Léaud, known for performing as
“Antoine Doinel” in a series of François Truffaut movies. I found a photo of
Truffaut, shooting in a window Rue Nollet. In Eustache’s flat? Anyhow
they were friends.
Other people
who stayed here for shorter or longer periods: The poet Langston Hughes
(1902-67), the author Henry Miller (1891-1980) – we are in the Clichy area, the
painter Yves Klein (1928-62)…
Barbara
(1930-97) songwriter, singer, was born in the crossing street, rue Brochant,
but spent her childhood rue Nollet before being forced to leave Paris with her
parents during the Nazi occupation. A little alley in the nearby park, Square
des Batignolles (“my park”) has received her name.
To finish this long post, maybe
we can listen to her?
16 comments:
Barbara is most disconcerting when she stares atraight into the camera. Touch of Amy Winehouse, or is it just the eye makeup?
I would not use the term "celebrity" for people of this calibre, Peter. Celebrities are all show, with little substance, eg Trump. Mostly they are artists, be it with word, brush, or camera. So many for just one street, albeit a very long street.
I love the doors and their ironwork, as well as the architect or owner's ability to "sign" their work.
A very long post, but much appreciated by this visitor. Thank you.
Delightful post about an area I've not been to. I learn so much from your blog and don't thank you enough. Too easy to just click "like" on FB than to take time to comment so I will try harder in the future. I do read it all and enjoy the photos and information.
I, too, love the doors and the ironwork. I do miss Paris.
Friends ask me why I return to Paris over and over. I always say, "Peter has new things for me to see and photograph." What a wonderful post, as usual. I feel like putting up a photo with a quick caption is almost cheating my readers afters seeing yours, but of course I always link here whenever possible!
V
Barbara ... very nice voice. Too bad I don't speak French so I could know what she is singing about. :-) Love the way she rolls those words off her tongue. Yes, the eye makeup does give her a touch of the mistique of Amy Winehouse. Very enlightening post, Peter.
Pardon moi, Peter. I believe the proper spelling would be mystique.
Bonjour cher Peter,
Nous sommes très nombreux a aimer la voix de Barbara... Ses chansons sont tellement poignantes.
Quel plaisir que de errer et de découvrir Paris avec toi comme guide !... Des photos fascinantes.
Je sais que tu vas m'en vouloir mais je suis rentrée depuis une semaine de Paris. Je ne t'ai pas téléphoné. Je pensais le faire, mais j'ai eu tant à faire avec des rendez-vous divers pour la mise en route de la rénovation du petit appartement de Montmartre.
Je reviens en novembre, promis je te contacte... et là j'espère que nous pourrons faire une visite parisienne !
Je t'embrasse amicalement,
Gros bisous ♡
I just finished a book on Provence and was enchanted by the sheer beauty (descriptiveness was very good) so I was in a very " French " mood when I came across your post.
I particularly like that buildings that are so old are still being used on a daily basis. Not just museum type work but actually used and lived in. That is marvellous.
Très intéressant….
Pierre
C'est finalement tout sauf "just another ordinary street"! A propos de la rue de La Condamine toute proche, peut-être connais-tu Le Procès des Etoiles, extraordinaire petit livre sur l'expédition scientifique menée au Pérou au début du XVIIIème? Sinon je crois que ça pourrait te plaire.
A bientôt!
Michèle
Ton blog devient une référence certaine lorsqu'on veut connaitre un détail sur Paris!
What a charming neighborhood! To me, it looks so romantic.
There was a little poem by Rimbaud (forgot the name of it) about a girl asleep in a red carriage. I used to like it very much. Can't find it anymore.
Thank you, M.Peter for such a fantastic and informative post.
Maria O. Russell
What a wonderful, fascinating area!!! I must apologize - I scanned through the post,and was immediately captivated by those exquisite doors with all the wrought iron decoration. I will come back and spend more time reading .
Kathryn
Ta publication me rappelle une autre rue.
Célèbre par quelques personnages que tu cites dont Bernadette Lafont.
Listened to this great singer's interpretation of Dis, quand reviendras-tu.To me it sounds not like a song of despair but like a song of hope. Her facial features remind me of Audrey Hepburn. The sculpted jaw, the high cheekbones and those magnificent eyes!
Loved the photo of Nicolas de Stael wirh his family. Does not his last name belong to the Swedish nobility?
Hi Peter .you have done it again !!! Another place for us to visit. Who would of known that this ordinary looking street would be filled with so much history. Fascinating facts and photos. Feb photos of the doors too. ..take care and thanks once again for bringing more of Paris too us.
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